Motor vehicle driving institutes will be permitted to re-open for operation from September 9, 2021, transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong has announced.
This will be conducted by appointment, as laid out under the National Recovery Plan (NRP), however driving license examinations will only commence on September 17, the transport minister’s statement continued, saying that the gap is to allow the driving institutes to manage any issues that may arise for exam candidates to face.
Permission has been granted with the approval of the National Security Council (MKN), and is subject to compliance with the following stipulations that centres fully adhere to current standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the NRP, and the full vaccination of employees, teaching staff and candidates, with verifiable identification cards (NRICs) and Covid-19 digital vaccination certificates.
Driving institutes will be permitted to operate at capacities based on the percentage of employees that have been vaccinated, Wee said. For example, institutes with 40% of its employees vaccinated may operate at 60% of staff count, while those with 60% of its employees vaccinated may operate at 80% staff count. Centres may operate with full staff count if at least 80% of staff have been vaccinated.
In terms of exceptions, persons not allowed into driving institute premises are staff or candidates showing Covid symptoms; persons residing in areas under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO); individuals flagged as persons under surveillance (PUS) and persons under quarantine.
Health protocols as stipulated by the ministry of health include body temperature checks, MySejahtera check-ins, physical distancing, and the use of face masks as well as hand sanitisers. The transport ministry wishes to remind the public that violated of relevant SOPs can result in actions taken under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).
As acknowledgement and allowing for difficulties potentially faced by driving institutes throughout this pandemic, the transport ministry will grant a three-month moratorium on renewal of motor vehicle driving institutes’ permits until November 30, 2021, for those whose permits expire between January and September 2021, the transport minister’s statement read.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
If you allow Grab cars to operate,why take so long to let driving schools continue?
By now,perhaps 30% of the driving schools have kaput.
Say,the training is limited to 1 hour…it would be equivalent to a Grab giving a ride 80km to KLIA?
Which is more dangerous,in terms of virus spread?
Simply cuz in Grab you sit BEHIND which in most case you are likely more than 1 mtr social distance away from the driver. In a learner’s training car, your instructor is sitting BESIDE you and often in an Axia there is no way to get 1 mtr social distance in between so your risk of getting infected is more dangerous in a L car than inside a Grab car. Only with both parties are fully vaccinated does such risk dramatically reduces.
I’m confident Dr Wee have considered all angles and the successfully ongoing vaccination rate plus the rapid relieving of bed spaces in hospital currently in allowing fully complied driving schools to reopen at this juncture. He is a doctor by profession and he knows where the balance is and course of mitigation before making his decision.
MR Jeremy,thank you for raising the close proximity of instructor and learner driver,which I overlook.
However,once the windows are all shut,with the air con blowing,the virus keep circulating unless when not drizzling ,one or two windows are down to facilitate fresh air.
The most practical way,is double face masking with face shield for all inside the vehicle apart from full vaccination.
More precautions is no harm but so far we don’t hear of Grab clusters so it is safe to assume that current precautionary methods are sufficient provided everyone fully adheres to the SOP & fully vaccinated. Double face mask, face shield, space suits, oxygen tank, whatever, that is up to your individual comfort level. If you want no AC and wind down windows, up to you & your instructor.
Wee is a not medical doctor to being with. So, what has his Dr designation got to do with your explanation?
You must be new to this Covid thing, so let me explain in a way simple and easy to understand.
You see, studies shown that a relative minimum social distance of ONE meter is considered safe enough to prevent airborne virus particles to spread onto another person. The chances of infections are far much lesser when both persons are fully vaccinated, the reason for doing vaccination in the first place. Therefore the rule for ride hailing required the passenger to site behind creating that ONE meter gap.
Meanwhile in an instructor’s car, if you can still recall learning how to drive or perhaps you have not took one before, so here it goes, your instructor is sitting beside you at the front passenger seat, this significantly reduces the social distance gap to less than ONE meter, at such small distances the likelihood of either persons to get infected is far higher if either one was not fully vaccinated, thus the SOP in place to ensure both must be fully vaccinated.
If you ask which is more dangerous, the answer is simply the closer you are together the danger is higher. It might take ONE hour in a instructor’s car to get infected but it might take TWO hours in a ride hail.
bukak or tutup ppl will still complain. Never ending story.
if you are not feeling safe/comfortable about opening and visiting such establishment, then don’t go there. No one is forcing anyone.